this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025
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submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Amazon’s now-legendary “Prime Day” is July 8-11. Much like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, this means sales on lots of items on Amazon’s vast marketplace, and as such many people flock to the giant’s website to get sweet deals on everything from computers to small kitchen appliances and more. While many of us are feeling the financial crunch more than ever, I urge you, dear reader, to resist the allure. I don’t typically have strong opinions about where people chose to shop or how they decide to spend their heard-earned money, but in this post I hope to lay out a convincing case for why Amazon is full-stop evil, no caveats, and is undeserving of your money on a moral and ethical level no matter what your values are. Amazon needs to be stopped, and legislation will not do so. Only its loyal consumers – who keep the beast alive – can do that by taking their money elsewhere. No matter your political or personal beliefs, I'm certain Amazon violates them in one way or another, and you should vote with your dollar by buying from other places whenever possible. Here’s why.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I only use Amazon/Aliexpress/Temu etc if I don't have a choice. Things that are so god damn specific that the normal retailers I have access to in Europe don't have it. Specific cables or things for modding that are in gray area so retailers here don't want to sell it etc.

But I hate everything surrounding Amazon

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

I hope aliexpress is better. I buy a lot of stuff from there like electronics components which aren't really sold locally anymore. Also tools and arduino related things...

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

AliExpress at least lets you buy close to the source of a lot of goods that you won't find made elsewhere than China. Some stuff I find there exists from European makers, latest example, trim clips for cars: you can buy Restagraf but you need to live near a car body shop supplier that will be willing to sell you a few clips without insane markups.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

I have never bought anything from Amazon and I don't plan on it. I do understand that sometimes it's the only place to find something that a person might NEED though - and at a price they can afford, so I don't hate on the people on tight budgets that can't find an item anywhere else. (It's like when people buy stuff from Walmart, Target, etc. sometimes it's the only place where you can get necessities.) However, if you can afford to get it somewhere else then do it...or if you can only find it on Amazon maybe reassess if you ACTUALLY need it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

How does Temu compare to Crapazon?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

It's worse than Amazon. It's just cheap crap that will break in two weeks without any of the quality products that Amazon sometimes has.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 days ago

If you love the Chinese low quality drop shipped items on Amazon, and wish that was the only thing they stocked, then Temu is great!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Shut up! If you don't use Amazon how will the rich people go to space?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

I don't mind them going into space. It's the coming back I have a problem with.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Amazon is already dead to us. Just like Tesla, Target, Starbucks, and Meta.

They will never be purchased from, or supported in any way- ever again.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I avoid buying from Amazon as much as possible, but good luck doing anything online and avoiding AWS.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah, not a choice any of us who work in tech can make. But the small choices we CAN make do add up significantly.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

good luck doing anything online and avoiding AWS.

Don't let perfect stand in the way of good.

It's not possible in most cases to even know if a given online resource is using AWS behind the scenes, so it's not something you can really control.

On the other hand, if you happen to be a web developer, that is a different story, but for normal users it's not something you can do much about.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 days ago (1 children)

ITT: "I agree they're systematically fucking us over (and don't get me started on their horrible politics!) but will continue to enable them because it's convenient and saves me a few bucks" this defense doesn't make you look reasonable it makes you look like a clown

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 days ago

The thing is, it doesn't save money to shop there, either. 90% of what you see is Amazon Marketplace, where you're just paying people to dropship you trash from Aliexpress

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago (2 children)

The only reason you need - it's a monopoly. Fuck its all.

And I also hate with passion that 5 years ago you'd need AWS in your CV.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

People also use it a ton in Europe where they do not have a monopoly.

Heck even in the US they don't have a monopoly come to think about it, Aliexpress is selling the same crap

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 days ago

Also, AWS is so much more expensive than going with your own server.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not a fan of Amazon in any way shape or form, but for some purchases here in the UK they are simply miles ahead of other firms. Latest purchase by me, though not paid for by me is 2 x batteries for my wifes mobility scooter. 20% cheaper than anywhere else, took 1 week to arrive (not bad, not the best) but was so easy to order without all the hassle other solutions involve. We have a prime account still as there is some streaming stuff we also like to watch. Still (just) more pros than cons

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 days ago

True. I ordered a book from them last week; it arrived in 2 days. Everywhere else, including Waterstones, was "oh we might be able to get it out the door sometime next year, if we can be arsed" so Amazon got the order.

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